Franklin Township welcomes a new playground and pickleball courts

Celeste Urich has spent her entire life in Franklin Township. The young mom only lives 10 minutes away from Franklin Township Community Park, but she often wouldn’t take her kids there since the playground was so worn down.

“Everything was broken on it,” Urich said. “There’s times where you come out and there’d be a slide completely gone, so you couldn’t play on it.”

But not anymore. A new playground, picnic shelter and pickleball and basketball courts were unveiled at Franklin Township Community Park, 8801 E. Edgewood Ave., on Oct. 15.
 

Urich’s sons, SJ and Cash, said climbing on parts of the jungle gym remind them of their favorite superheroes, Iron Man, Hulk and Spiderman.

“It looks like you’re flying,” SJ said.
 

This is the first of many southside playgrounds that will be modernized to serve the community for decades to come.

The $2.8 million improvements include upgrades to a nature trail adjacent to Franklin Central High School to better support student athletes.

High schooler London Key said she’s excited to have a clean, spacious place for teenagers to hang out.

“I’m not gonna lie, just because I’m 17 doesn't mean I’m not playing on this equipment,” Key said. “I’m gonna play on the equipment no matter how old I am. I’m a kid at heart.”

The renovations are part of Indy Park’s effort to update 42 parks across Marion County.

In 2022, the Lilly Endowment grant awarded Indy Parks $80 million, 14 times the agency’s annual capital budget. To help sustain park funds long-term, Alex Cortwright, an Indy Parks spokesperson, said some of the renovated playgrounds will no longer have mulch. Instead, they will have pour-in-place rubber surfaces that he said are more sustainable and kid friendly.
 

The southside of Marion County has lacked trail and park amenities for decades.

Decatur Township, for instance, has multiple parks, but it’s never had a park center. That’s a public space that allows residents to host neighborhood meetings, community events and other programming.

In 2023, Indy Parks acquired land in Decatur Township to create the area’s first park center, Jack Butler Park. The city is collecting community feedback for the future facility as it draws renovation blueprints. It’s unclear when the project, funded through the Indy Parks capital budget, will be finished.
 

Southside park renovations

Projects funded through the Lilly Endowment grant are expected to be completed by the end of next year.
 

Garfield Park — $5.5 million

Garfield Park, 2345 Pagoda Drive, will receive new playgrounds near the pagoda and upgrades to the walkways. Construction at Indianapolis’ oldest park is expected to begin this fall, if weather allows, and the park will reopen in late 2026.

The Pagoda Shelter will be unavailable during construction, but residents can rent one of Garfield Park’s other shelters.

Fountains at the Sunken Garden, near the Garfield Park Conservatory, will be renovated. Cortwright said most of the construction has been completed, but the fountains won’t be turned on until spring 2026.
 

Perry Park — about $1 million

Perry Park, 451 E. Stop 11 Road, will get a a new playground through the Lilly Endowment. That’s in addition to roughly $87,000 from the city to improve sports courts and building maintenance for the ice rink and pool facility.

The park is currently under construction, but most of the park amenities will remain open. The project is expected to be completed this fall or in early 2026.
 

Southside Park — $2 million renovations

Southside Park, 1941 E. Hanna Ave., will receive a new playground, walkways, basketball and pickleball courts. Cortwright said the city left space for more courts if there’s future funding.

The park is closed for construction, but it’s expected to reopen this fall or early 2026.
 

Southwestway Park — $1.25 million renovations

Southwestway Park, 8400 Mann Road, will receive a new playground and restroom. Most of the park will still be open during construction, which is expected to begin in late 2025 or early 2026. The project is expected to be completed next year.
 

Thompson Park — $1 million renovations

Thompson Park, 6451 Thompson Road, will receive a new playground, a refurbished basketball court and an improved trail. Those renovations will be completed next year with $1 million that Councilor Michael Dilk received for neighborhood improvements.
 

Tolin-Akeman Park — $1.27 million renovations

Tolin-Akeman Park, 4459 Shelbyville Road, will receive a new playground, shelter, basketball and pickleball courts and a walking trail. The park is closed for construction, but it’s expected to reopen in 2026.
 

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Mirror Indy reporter Elizabeth Gabriel covers the south side of Marion County. Contact her at elizabeth.gabriel@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on Facebook at Elizabeth Gabriel, Southside Reporter and on X at @_elizabethgabs.